Combined medicine-case and saddle-bags



(No Model.) 7 2 SheetS' S heet 1.

J. E. SMOOT.

COMBINED MEDICINE GASE AND SADDLE BAGS.

No. 554,843. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

J. E. SMOOT. OOMBINED MEDIGINE CASE AND SADDLE BAGS.

Wii asses 7 NITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JAMES EDWARD SMOOT, OF CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMBINED MEDICINE-CASE AND SADDLE-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,843, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed June 27, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWARD SMoor, a citizen of the United States, residing at (3011'- cord, in the county of Cabarrus and State of North Carolina, have inventeda new and useful Combined Medicine-Case and Saddle- Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which embody in their construction two similarly-formed cases or saddle-bags which are connected by a band or yoke, and Which are formed with especial reference to be carried by hand or suspended from the saddle, according to the convenience of the user and whether the person is mounted or traveling in a vehicle or upon foot.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of saddle-bags, hand and buggy case combined, which will be neat in design, durable, and capable of storing medicinevials and surgical instruments in a compact form without the possibility of injury resulting to the contents of the case or saddle-bags.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is disclosed in the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention as it will appear when used as sad- I dle-bags. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device adjusted so as to be used as a hand or buggy case. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the invention, having its parts disposed in the relation shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cases, showing the cover open and the leaves partially unfolded.

The cases 1 and 2 will be formed of any suitable material, stout leather being preferred, and the bottom, back, and two sides will be integrally formed and comprise parts of a blank from which the case is constructed. The front 3 may likewise form a part of the blank from which the body of the case is fashioned; but it is preferred to make it a separate part and attach it byahinge-joint to the bottom, and this front is formed at its lower end with an inwardly-extending portion 4:, which constitutes a foot or rest for the medicine-bottles,which may be placed in the lower rack provided on the said front 3. A series of leaves or partitions 5, of similar construc- $611.11 No. 564,213. (No model.)

tion to the front 3, are hinged at their lower ends to the bottom of the case, and each has at its lower end a foot or ledge 6 forming a rest for the medicine-bottles or other articles placed in the lower racks provided on the said leaves. The partitions, as well as the front of the cases, have shelves 7 intermediate of their upper and lower ends, and which subserve the same purpose as the rests 4 and 6. Inwardly-extending flanges 8 are located at the upper ends of the leaves or partitions and the fronts 3, and are intended to properly space these parts so as to obviate a crowding of the medicine-bottles, which would likely result in injury thereto, and these inwardlyeXtending flanges 8 unitedly form a closure for the upper end of the case, and curtains 9 attached thereto extend in front of the said leaves or partitions when the latter are closed so as to protect the bottles and other articles supported thereon.

Suitably-constructed racks 10 are attached to the inner sides of the leaves and the front, and will be provided in different sizes and fashioned to suit the bottles, articles or instruments to be supported thereby. These racks may be closed or may comprise spring portions, between which the bottles or other articles are clasped. The back may be subdivided by strips, so as to form compartments especially designed for receiving surgical instruments, and these compartments 11 may be plain or supplied with racks, according to the use for which they are designed, and suitable curtains may be provided for closing the open sides of the said compartments.

If preferred, one or more racks may be omitted from a portion of one or more leaves or partitions, and the space thus formed may be closed by strips, thereby forming a compartment 12 for the convenient storing of such appliances as are useful in surgical operations, and this compartment 12 will be closed by a flap or curtain 13, which is secured at its free end by a short tab, which is buttoned or otherwise made fast to a strip or portion enclosing the compartment 12.

Curtains 14 are attached at one end to the backs of the cases and extend over the top sides thereof and down in front of the same, and are intended to give a finished appearance to the case or saddle-bags and exclude all dust.

The band or yoke 15 is secured at its opposite ends to the top edges of the backs of the cases, and when the device is used as saddlebags the said band rests in the seat of the saddle in the usual manner.

When the device is used as a case to be carried in a vehicle or by hand, the band or yoke 15 is folded so as to lie between the backs of the cases, and the latter are secured together by side straps 16, which are buckled in the ordinary way. A strap 1.7, having snap-hooks at its ends to engage with rings at the corners of the cases, is designed to pass over the saddle and prevent the saddle-bags or cases from moving backward and forward, and also to hold the said saddle-bags out of the way of the rider.

The fronts 3 are held closed by suitable fastenings, and for this purpose metal plates 18 are attached thereto and have their slotted portions constructed to embrace the sides of the cases and receive hooks 19, which have pivotal connection with the sides of the cases, and which are adapted to pass through the slots 20 in the plates 18, and which are turned so as to project across the edges of the said slots and retain the fronts in closed relation.

The reinforcing-plates 21 serve to strengthen the angles of the cases and at the same time i 1 bags and hand-ease,comprising two similarlyformed cases open at their front sides and provide ornamentation whereby the deviceis rendered more attractive.

For convenience of carrying the device, when reduced to a compact form, handles 22 are provided 011 the cases, and to admit of the strap 17 being lengthened and shortened it is 1 of the cases, fronts and leaves hinged to the composed of two parts, which are buckled together. The curtains 1a are secured at their lower or free ends by buttons 23 passing through openings in the said vcurtains and 5 turned so as to sit crosswise thereof.

A device or case constructed substantially as herein" set forth is compact and will accommodate a greater number of bottles and instruments than is possible with devices for a like purpose as generally provided. It will be understood that while the band or yoke 15 is secured at its ends to the cases it is contemplated to make it an integral part of the blank from which the cases are formed. This construction will depend largely upon the size of the device and the purpose for which the same is designed, as well as the nature of the material from which it is constructed.

It will be understood that the cases will be suitably lined and upholstered according to the required finish and style of the completed device; also that the exterior finish and the material comprising the body of the case and the various partitions thereof will depend largely upon the fancy of the manufacturer, and it is to be understood further that the invention is susceptible of various uses. Therefore in adapting the same for a particular requirement changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invent-ion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with a case open at its front side and top, and a front hinged at its lower end to the bottom of the case and adapted to be secured when closed, of leaves or partitions hinged to the bottom of the case and having at their tops and intermediate of their ends flanges, the upper flanges unitcdly forming a closure for the top end of the case,

and curtains secured to the upper fl an ges and adapted to hang in front of the said leaves, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

2. The herein-specified combined saddletops, and each provided with a earryin g-handie, a band connecting the two cases, curtains secured to the top edges of the backs and extending over the top ends and down in front bottoms of the cases and having inwardlyextending flanges at their bottoms, tops, and at intermediate points, the top flanges unitedly forming a closure for the upper ends of the cases, racks located upon the inner sides of the partitions, and curtains secured to the upper ends of the fronts and partitions and constructed to close the open sides thereof, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in, the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES EDWARD SMOO'J.

Witnesses G. S. CnowELL, II. PURYEAR. 

